adjective not legally permitted or authorized; unlicensed; unlawful.
disapproved of or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons.
Origin of illicit From the
Latin word
illicitus, dating back to
1645–55. See
il-2 ,
licit Related forms il·lic·it·ly , adverb il·lic·it·ness , noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for illicitness adjective not allowed or approved by common custom, rule, or standard illicit sexual relations
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Derived Forms illicitly , adverb illicitness , noun Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for illicitness adj. c.1500, from Old French illicite (14c.) "unlawful, forbidden," from Latin illicitus "not allowed, unlawful, illegal," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + licitus "lawful," past participle of licere "to be allowed" (see licence ). Related: Illicitly .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper